Diagnosis ofToxoplasma gondii infection in AIDS patients by a tissue-culture technique (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2013
Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii (Apicomplexa) is one of the most common widespread parasitic diseases worldwide and is one of the major opportunistic infections afflicting patients with advanced HIV infection. The primary infection in immunocompetent individuals, which is asymptomatic or accompanied by mild and non-specific symptoms in most cases, is usually followed by a lifelong latent infection. Any subsequent reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis due to severe immunodeficiency is manifested most often as cerebral toxoplasmosis. Since the mid-1980s this disease has been the focus of greatly increased attention and the circumstances of its pathogenesis and clinical and laboratory symptoms are relatively well known, whilst effective therapy and prophylaxis are available. 1 Nonetheless, little is known about the incidence and manifestations of primary T. gondii infection in HIV-infected individuals. 2 For this reason we decided to carry out a retrospective analysis of medical records pertaining to HIV-infected patients at the AIDS Center Prague in order to determine the incidence and laboratory and clinical characteristics of primary T. gondii infection. In this health care setting, a total of 1130 HIV-infected patients are followed up, representing approximately 65% of all diagnosed HIVinfected patients in the Czech Republic. 3 This study was possible thanks to many years of close cooperation between the AIDS
Microbiology Research Journal International, 2019
Background: Toxoplasma gondii an intracellular protozoan causes toxoplasmosis a worldwide neglected tropical disease, which also causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients. The Toxoplasmosis was known for cerebral involvement more commonly among patients with HIV/AIDS and serious than extra-cerebral toxoplasmosis. For cerebral toxoplasmosis patients the definitive diagnosis is crucial by demonstrating the presence of the tachyzoite form of Toxoplasma gondii directly in the cerebral tissues. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among HIV patients and role of radiological investigation in the diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of
Molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients
Cerebrospinal Fluid Research, 2009
Background: Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is one of the most common opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. In Cuba, despite the highly active antiretroviral therapy, TE is still the most important cause of cerebral mass lesions in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The detection of Toxoplasma gondii by PCR may facilitate the diagnosis and follow-up of TE in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients by direct identification of parasite DNA in clinical samples. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a rapid PCR method using the B1 gene to detect T. gondii in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with suspected TE.
Toxoplasmosis in Immunocompromised Patients: Laboratory Diagnosis
Toxoplasmosis is infection largely distibuted around the word caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The reactivation of the latent parasite related to a profound immunosupression constitutes a health problem particulary in HIV patients and other immunocompromised patients. Various clinical features are observed but the most frequent is represented by neurotoxoplasmosis then pulmonary toxoplasmosis and ocular toxoplasmosis. The laboratory diagnosis is not based on serology tests because of the limited results in this kind of patients. Serology can help only to predict the reactivation of infection. The confirmation of diagnosis consists of the demonstration of the parasite in different samples or the detection of toxoplasma-DNA by polymerase chain reaction PCR.
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2011
Background: Cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT) continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Brazil. In clinical practice, the initial diagnosis is usually presumptive and alternative diagnosis tools are necessary. Our objective was to evaluate whether the detection of high titers of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii and T. gondii DNA in blood samples are associated with the diagnosis of CT. Methods: In this case-control study we included 192 patients with HIV-1 infection: 64 patients with presumptive CT (cases) and 128 patients with other diseases (controls). Blood samples to perform indirect immunofluorescense reaction (IFI) to detect anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were collected before or within the first three days of anti-Toxoplasma therapy. Two multivariate logistic regression models were performed: one including the variable qualitative serology and another including quantitative serology. Results: In the first model, positive IgG anti-T. gondii (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.2-18.3; p = 0.027) and a positive T. gondii PCR result (OR 132, 95% CI 35-505; p < 0.001) were associated with the diagnosis. In the second model, IgG anti-T. gondii titres ≥ 1:1024 (OR 7.6, 95% CI 2.3-25.1; p = 0.001) and a positive T. gondii PCR result (OR 147, 95% CI 35-613; p < 0.001) were associated with the diagnosis. Conclusions: Quantitative serology and molecular diagnosis in peripheral blood samples were independently associated with the diagnosis of CT in HIV-infected patients. These diagnostic tools can contribute to a timely diagnosis of CT in settings where Toxoplasma infection is common in the general population.
Latent and Reactivated Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in HIV-Infected Patients in Albania
2015
Toxoplasmosis, which is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common parasitic infections of humans and warm blooded animals. The Toxoplasma Encephalitis (TE) is one of the most frequent opportunist infections and as a consequence the most important cause of cerebral focal lesions in HIV/AIDS patients, because of the reactivation of the latent infection. Purpose: To provide data on the prevalence of Toxoplazmosis in HIV/AIDS patients hospitalized and followed in our outpatient clinic and Infectious Diseases Service and to recognize the clinical, preclinical, therapeutic features of cases. Materials and methods: From 157 subjects with HIV/AIDS who were filled with ELISA IgM/IgG T.gondii antibodies, we studied 92 cases which had the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG. Results: The seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in HIV patients in our study resulted 58.59%. In 92 positive cases for IgG antibodies, 33.69% were females and 66.30% were males. We found that the most number of patien...
Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology, 1990
A longitudinal study of different parameters of the immune responses to Toxoplasma gondii was performed with sera of AIDS patients taken during and after clinically important Toxoplasma infections. Follow-up of patients lasted for 9 months on an average. The titres of the specific IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and the appearance of circulating antigens of Toxoplasma gondii was determined in 88 sera of 18 patients with CNS (6 cases), pulmonary (1), lymph-node toxoplasmosis (1), or asymptomatic primary infections (2), respectively. The profile of the IgG antibodies reacting with a lytic antigen originating from a pool of trophozoites of six different Toxoplasma strains were examined by means of an SDS-PAGE followed by an immunoblot. Although numerous antigen bands were recognized by the sera of patients with clinically important infections, an antigen pattern characteristic of an acute infection could not be discovered. The major...
Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in HIV/AIDS patients with Immunoblotting
Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic illness affecting humans. Reactivation of latent infection in HIV infected patients can cause encephalitis. Diagnosing the disease rests on serological methods. ELISA for IgG antibodies remains positive in most HIV-infected patients with toxoplasmosis while immunoblotting can predict the development of encephalitis. Immunodiagnosis by urine sample is easy and has been successfully tried in other parasitoses. So this study aimed at detection of antitoxoplasma antibodies by immunoblotting in sera and urine of HIV infected patients. In patients tested positive for antitoxoplasma IgG, the 97 kDa and 53 kDa antigenic bands were the most reactive in serum and urine respectively.These antigens can be purified and used for immunodiagnosis by ELISA and similar procedures to increase the specificity of diagnosis.
Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Mikrobiologie, und Hygiene. Series A, Medical microbiology, infectious diseases, virology, parasitology, 1988
232 sera and 40 cerebrospinal fluid samples of altogether 125 patients in stages III or IV of a HIV-infection were tested for circulating antigen of Toxoplasma gondii by means of a three-layer enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating antigen was detected in 32 sera of 20 patients (= 16% of all persons investigated). These ELISA results were reexamined by an Immunoblot following a SDS-PAGE and confirmed in most cases. In addition, this test system led to a partial characterization of the circulating antigen; it consists of at least two proteins with atomic mass units of 27 and 57 kd respectively. The antigenemia was correlated with IgG- and IgM-antibody titres, with clinical symptoms, and with pathological findings also. Our results indicate that the detection of circulating antigen in sera offers a rapid and efficient method for the diagnosis of an acute toxoplasmosis in AIDS-patients.